What's your favourite tree?

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

I need some trees and don't know a damn thing about them. My wine list thread got me some great suggestions, so I'm milking the collective wisdom once again.

Anyone have a tree in their yeard they really like? Dislike? One that attracts pretty birds? One that attracts punks with toliet paper rolls?

[Agamemnon]

Don't get a crabapple tree or a mountain ash. We had both. It's a mess.

[Mr. Ski]

I like:

* Mountain Ash: because they grow straight and tall, with a fairly compact, orderly design, have nice red berries that attract the birds, and go a beautiful red in the fall.

* Fir Trees: a great green colour all year round, and seem to do well in Calgary.

* Crab Apples: we have only one in our yard, a Rescue Crab, but get to harvest from a number of others in the family too. Great for just eating, making jelly, or baking pies in the fall if that's your thing.

* Nan King Cherry: more of a large bush than a tree, but really tasty fruit.

* Savin Junipers: these are great for ground cover and colour; eventually grow to about 2.5 feet tall and 6 feet around; work well beside your front steps or around larger trees.

* Explorer Series Roses: lastly, for some amazing colour and hardiness, you can't go wrond with these; developed for the Canadian climate, there's about 30 different types to choose from with names like "Henry Hudson", "Jacque Cartier", "John Cabot etc. A link to some pictures.

Hope that helps, I'm a bit of a gardening geek. :geek:

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I work in forestry and know a bit about trees, just not sure if that really helps for yards and stuff. I'm usually looking for huge ones to cut down, not which ones look nice in a yard.

I have some nice Spruce trees in my front yard. Great for shade and privacy, but terrible for needles..........millions on the lawn, and they hurt like heck when you walk on them in bare feet. Plus, Spruce are shallow rooted, and thus more prone to blow over. So, basically, stay away from them!!

[Mr. Ski]

Originally posted by Agamemnon@May 11 2005, 03:51 AM
Don't get a crabapple tree or a mountain ash. We had both. It's a mess.

Oops, and here I like both!

[notoepik]

I like White Birch because I think they look pretty and Red Leaf Maple for shade.

[ratech]

Swedish Aspen - No maintenance.

Edited- Some swede tried to hook my right typing hand

[octothorp]

My picks:

burr oak: wonderful, unusual bark, very interesting. And you get acorns. The downside is that they're very slow-growing.
carigana: fast growing, hardy and drought-resistant, and a nice smell
birches: beautiful trees, especially paper birch, but they take a lot of water
russian olive: technically a zone 4, but it does well in Calgary, regardless. Beautiful and silver, fragrant. A little spiky, I think.
Mountain Ash: I agree with Mr Ski--best tree there is for attracting birds
Pincherry: nice little ornamental trees with delicious berries that also attrach birds
Golden Willow: fast growing, drought resistant, golden bark.

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by Mr. Ski+May 11 2005, 03:59 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mr. Ski @ May 11 2005, 03:59 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Agamemnon@May 11 2005, 03:51 AM
Don't get a crabapple tree or a mountain ash. We had both. It's a mess.

Oops, and here I like both! [/b][/quote]
I had one of each in my backyard. The crabapples and mountain ash berries are pretty, and really fun to throw at other people, but come fall all the berries/apples fall and become jam on your lawn. Its a sticky, nasty mess.

Also, I think birds eat over-ripe Mountain Ash berries and get drunk off the fermentation or something. They always seemed to fly into our windows, and I'm convinced they were loaded on old berry juice.

[daredevil]

Good topic for us novice first home owners.

Where is a good (pref. cheap) place to buy trees?

[Mr. Ski]

Bought a few in the past couple of years at Golden Acre off McKnight Blvd. Nice selection, helpful staff, and most are guaranteed for the first year. Prices seemed reasonable too, though I have to admidt we didn't comparison shop much.

[kermitology]

The tree I love I've only seen growing on the U Vic campus, can't remember what it's called, but the bark peels off of itself, it's cool.. Other than that, We've got a mountain ash and a crab apple in the back yard, the crab apple in bloom is really wonderful to see, so I quite enjoy it. The mountain ash can make some really nice centre pieces if you dry out the berries

[kermitology]

Originally posted by daredevil@May 11 2005, 10:28 AM
Good topic for us novice first home owners.

Where is a good (pref. cheap) place to buy trees?

Sunnyside's tree lot is actually pretty decent, and if your tree dies within two years you can get your money back or a new tree.. I helped Dean McAmmond replace his trees a few years back when I worked there.

[Mango]

Just found this out: Co-op club members will receive 10% at Sunnyside. You must present your club card or key chain thingy.

[Bertuzzied]

Can someone help me out regarding roots? I just moved into a new place in varsity and there are at least 20 mature trees there. I was told that Birch trees have roots that will invade the basement, is that true? also anyone know about pine tree roots? When i replaced the basement toilet i noticed there were some weeds coming out of the toilet hole. Thanx!

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally posted by Bertuzzied@May 11 2005, 12:20 PM
Can someone help me out regarding roots? I just moved into a new place in varsity and there are at least 20 mature trees there. I was told that Birch trees have roots that will invade the basement, is that true? also anyone know about pine tree roots? When i replaced the basement toilet i noticed there were some weeds coming out of the toilet hole. Thanx!

This link RIGHT HEREshould help you out.

Hey Bourgeois... I don't know much about trees but I know that trees with needles (pine trees maybe) wreck the lawn pretty good so keep that in mind if you want it to look like a golf course out there.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally posted by RougeUnderoos+May 11 2005, 06:26 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (RougeUnderoos @ May 11 2005, 06:26 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Bertuzzied@May 11 2005, 12:20 PM
Can someone help me out regarding roots? I just moved into a new place in varsity and there are at least 20 mature trees there. I was told that Birch trees have roots that will invade the basement, is that true? also anyone know about pine tree roots? When i replaced the basement toilet i noticed there were some weeds coming out of the toilet hole. Thanx!

This link RIGHT HEREshould help you out.

Hey Bourgeois... I don't know much about trees but I know that trees with needles (pine trees maybe) wreck the lawn pretty good so keep that in mind if you want it to look like a golf course out there. [/b][/quote]
wow was that suppose to be funny? why didn't you send me a picture of this instead? hehehe
[img]http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=roots+canada/v=2/SID=w/l=IVI/SIG=126soao2u/EXP=1115924424/*-http%3A//toronto.cbc.ca/gfx/photos/bizlogo_roots.jpg[/img]

[BlackArcher101]

Favorite tree? I'd say Spruce. Barely needs any water, grows vertical, no leaves to clean up, no fruits to pick off it.... can't ask for more

Pine trees wreck the lawn? That's news to me. Never have I seen bad lawn around a pine tree.

[octothorp]

Originally posted by kermitology@May 11 2005, 09:39 AM
The tree I love I've only seen growing on the U Vic campus, can't remember what it's called, but the bark peels off of itself, it's cool.

I'm guessing you mean arbutus trees, found only on Vancouver Island and the other small islands in the area. They've got dark red park that naturally rubs off to reveal a much paler core.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

How cool is CalgaryPuck

Ask a question about trees and 24 hours later you have a whole buffet of responses.

This rocks, thanks all.

Incidentally, we're headed out to a tree farm by Aldersyde/Okotoks this weekend which I'm told is who sells the trees to most of the garden centres.

I'll find out this weekend if that means wholesale prices.